One of the things I’ve come to realize is just how badly America fails at creating safe and orderly public infrastructure, even compared to less-developed countries.
Taking a look at the Wikipedia article, it seems that only 750 Border Patrol officers were assigned to Operation Wetback in the 1950s and about 1 million were deported or left. So it’s not necessarily the case that such vast numbers of officials are required to make an impact.
I have always been struck by the expectation of all parties that a a refugee claimant who just shows up is automatically entitled to free accommodation, food, etc. What if they just weren’t given these things and most were subject to immediate deportation? I do think that Western societies are getting to the point that it’s just not possible to do these things for these migrants and the limits will be hit. At that point the political consensus will have to change in some way.
What about self-deportation to solve the immigration problem? Lock down the border, remove birthright citizenship and end all entitlements for non-citizens. Make it so painful to be here that they leave on their own with massive penalties to those who help them stay. I’d even be open to offering a travel stipend to return home for those who willingly turn themselves in.
These are excellent policies, ones that absolutely require little more than political will to achieve. But again, they require a leadership class serious about fixing the problem. The public consensus is already there.
This is clearly different from Trump's remigration plan or that which is proposed by much of the radical right.
Taking a look at the Wikipedia article, it seems that only 750 Border Patrol officers were assigned to Operation Wetback in the 1950s and about 1 million were deported or left. So it’s not necessarily the case that such vast numbers of officials are required to make an impact.
I have always been struck by the expectation of all parties that a a refugee claimant who just shows up is automatically entitled to free accommodation, food, etc. What if they just weren’t given these things and most were subject to immediate deportation? I do think that Western societies are getting to the point that it’s just not possible to do these things for these migrants and the limits will be hit. At that point the political consensus will have to change in some way.
I've got to read the Starship Troopers book now. I only saw the movie.
What about self-deportation to solve the immigration problem? Lock down the border, remove birthright citizenship and end all entitlements for non-citizens. Make it so painful to be here that they leave on their own with massive penalties to those who help them stay. I’d even be open to offering a travel stipend to return home for those who willingly turn themselves in.
These are excellent policies, ones that absolutely require little more than political will to achieve. But again, they require a leadership class serious about fixing the problem. The public consensus is already there.
This is clearly different from Trump's remigration plan or that which is proposed by much of the radical right.